AHOY! HOLD THAT SHIP!

Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

I know in my heart of hearts that pushing the button once is like pushing it a thousand times. The problem is that half the time, the light behind the button is out. The bulb went. So. I push the button. Nothing happens.

Not the right elevator?

A philosophical issue arises. Did I push the button … or did I not push the button? IF I pushed it, did it work? Is the absence of a bulb mean a failed process? Will pushing it again accomplish something else?

I push it again. Still, no light. By now, the conveyance is conveying. Up or down, we are on our way. Somewhere. Will it be where I want to go? Tune in next week and I promise I’ll let you know!

Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)

I never visit big cities I don’t know without a hotel reservation — and a parking space. Other places — gentler, less busy places — we will go with or without plans, depending on the time of year. If it is full tourist season, we need a reservation. But if it is off-season, we might go and see what comes up. Some of our best trips have been to places we were only planning to be for an afternoon, then decided to stay overnight.

The one guy I hug a lot

A place from which to watch the world.

In this part of the world, season matters. The more upstate you go, the more likely you are to need a reservation. For mountains and shore or merely to go leafing. In New England, going out to view leaves with a camera is a huge recreational activity. Bigger than summer vacation. This isn’t about how we feel about it. It’s about living somewhere that millions of people want to visit.

Locally, if you want to do anything involving the beach and it’s summer, you absolutely need a reservation. Even if you have an RV, you will still need a reservation.You are not going to find a lovely little place to stay on Cape Cod in June, July, or August. Probably not in May or September, either. And, to be fair, the Cape is insanely overcrowded in the summer. It’s really lovely in the second half of October. I recommend it.

The moral of the story? If you live in a vacation location, make sure you and your calendar have a relationship. New England has gotten back to being more of a vacation site over past 10 years … as it was 100 years ago. It has come around. Again.

Describe yourself in at least four uplifting words.

Uplifting? Um. I’m not sure about uplifting. Okay. But not very uplifting.

If you ask me for information or directions, you will really get them. I’m not good with quick answers. My husband has learned to say “JUST A QUICK ANSWER ON THIS ONE PLEASE,” which means I should leave the 40-page paper on my desk and give him the single-sentence version. But sometimes, I can’t.

It’s not even sarcasm. I think weird before I think deep. If you ask me something, I’m likely to give you one really strange answer. I have always been like this.

I love animals. All animals. That’s my most uplifting quality. Usually they like me, too. But they like Garry better.

I am a knee-jerk apologist. I apologize to everyone and everything. Tripped over the dog? Get down on the floor and apologize until dog gets annoyed and leaves. Walk into a table leg? Apologize to table and leg.

I am not perfect or even close. I am, however, a hard tryer.

I believe we are supposed to care about people who need help. Poor people, sick people, hurt people, old people, children. Immigrants. I think we should be kind to those who most need kindness. It doesn’t mean I don’t have a sharp temper for which I will wind up making several million apologies, but that’s not the same thing. A sharp temper is just that. It comes (embarrassing). It goes. STILL embarrassing. Garry has a good solid temper of his own and you should see us when we both get going.

Eventually, we forget what we were fighting about and watch some television. As I said previously, pretending nothing happened is always a great way to end a stupid fight. Especially when you are fighting with someone who, like you, never loses.

If you had a choice which would be your preference salt water beaches, fresh water lakes, ocean cruise, hot tub, ski resort or desert?

We’ve been on two cruises and we loved them. Why? Because once you get past the hassle of getting aboard — the traffic and hauling your stuff — you are free. No calls. No mail. Nothing but blue ocean, leaping dolphins, and periodic stops on sandy beaches or other cool place.

Photo: Garry Armstrong

Sunset

After which, you go back to the ship, eat far too much, watch a show, take in a few movies. You can watch the latest films in your own little room or in a theater, too … which for movie buffs is a great thing. I thought a small ship would be better than a big one, but it doesn’t really matter.

The ship is the ship is the ship. They are beautiful, well-kept. The food is amazing. And for however long you are on board, life is just GREAT.

However, we’ve had two glorious vacations in Arizona and many wonderful trips to Cape Cod and other areas along the shore. We’ve been to the top of the mountains in Maine and New Hampshire and to the perfect village in Vermont. We’ve had a great time in Disney World, California, Gettysburg, Cooperstown and New York. We had a wonderful few weeks in Ireland, too.

The only time it really didn’t work out well was when it rained continuously for the entire time. There’s not much you can do up in the mountains of New Hampshire when it’s pouring. Generally, wherever we are, we have a good time. It’s stupid to not have a good time on vacation. If you are away, in a nice place, but not enjoying it? That’s silly.

17 thoughts on “AHOY! HOLD THAT SHIP!”

October in Hyannis on Cape Cod. It was absolutely GLORIOUS. Worst motel ever, but the best WEATHER ever. We decided a crappy motel with great weather was vastly superior to great hotel with awful weather 😀

“Pretending nothing happened is always a great way to end a stupid fight” I learned that one from my grandmother. Most fights are about stupid things anyway. Best left forgotten.
When we arrived in Barcelona we didn’t have reservations. One person at the hotel desk thought we were out of minds for that. When we did find a hotel, which didn’t take all that long, we got a very good deal at a very nice place. A lot of our travel has been by the seat of our pants.
Leslie